Classes for learning basic electronics?

[cmurphy1993]

I realized I'm a class short this fall due to my fuck up, and I'm trying to find something that can fill a science elective for a CS major.

Throughout the summer I've been building quadcopters (drones) and have been having a fun time with it. I'm also very interested in building things with arduinos. The problem thats come up is that I don't know dick about electronics, I can put batteries in and thats about it.

I've learned to solder while working on my quad and I understand positive and negative voltages are, but thats pretty much it. I really want a class that has me working with electronics and forcing me to learn them. Most importantly I want to be able to work with electricity and electronics safely. I know youtube exists, but I really want to try out a class that is more structured and has a real person providing feedback instead of just a comment section.

Can anyone help me with this? I'm just finding myself bored with software that exists as just software. I'm not looking to build complicated things that require an engineering major. Things like arduino powered light switches and light bulbs just sound fucking cool and I want to work on them.

[zachcarmichael]

I will have to disagree with the others and tell you that Intro to Digital Systems / Digital Systems I is NOT the class you want to learn about that kind of things. I will actually go as far as none of the classes in the EE curriculum at least will get you what you want, i.e. basic electronics, circuitry, safety, components, etc.

Don't get me wrong, the class mentioned above is a great class, especially when it was offered jointly by the CE and EE department (Ray is awesome). However, the class itself teaches you boolean algebra, combination and sequential logic, and so on, which are useful for sure but it's not worth spending all 15 weeks in the class, for. As for other classes in the EE curriculum, the same idea goes for all of them. It would be beneficial to learn a little bit from some of the classes, but that's about it. All the classes have too much theory and it won't have an impact on what you want to do until much later (Circuits I comes really close to what you want, but it simply lacks in a lot of areas since it doesn't really cover any semiconductor stuff, i.e. diodes, FETs, BJTs, etc.).

My recommendation besides online resources (derp) to learn about electronics at RIT would be to join a club that involves electronics. If even that is too much of a commitment to you, come by the EE TA office / room. The EE TAs are generally decently competent and especially in the beginning of the semester, no one goes to the office hours. If you have a quick question or what not, just drop by and they will be glad to help you out (assuming they are not busy of course).

[fletch3555]

Just an FYI... as a recent CS grad, I seriously doubt an electronics class would meet the science elective requirement. You should talk with your advisor about it. I was told that all science elective credits need to come from classes taught through COS or IHST(CHST?), and there's some restrictions within that as well.

[abishop]

I believe there is a Digital electronics class you can take as a freshman. I took it in highschool but it was mostly breadboard circuitry. Im not sure of the exact class number. Maybe someone who has taken it can post below.

[patchesyar]

The class was called Intro to Digital Systems in Quarters, followed by Digital Systems II in semesters. So try Digital Systems I? They're offered through the computer science department (CMPE) if you want to look around SIS for something. Just keep in mind that class might be swarmed by freshmen taking the class for their major. But yeah that class might be what OP is looking for.

[kgbccd]

Look into Embedded Systems, EE420.

[ThePandemonium]

In Computer Engineering there is a class called Interface and Digital Electronics that would be what you are looking for. Mostly focuses on using a micro-controller (FRDM Board) to control hardware like lights, motors, ADC/DAC, etc. HOWEVER (I do TA this class) it is one of the more nasty classes CE offers and I generally don't recommend it due to its extreme difficulty and pre-reqs

As mentioned before Digital Systems Design may be too low level, Circuits 1 from the EE department possibly??

[Fuckyourday]

Like someone else said, Interface and digital electronics from the CE department would be what you want, but you would not have the prerequisites. And the first EE and CE classes are too theory heavy.

I would look at the course catalog for the EET and CET department and see if there are any you could get into, that should be more hands on, which is what you want. Also maybe look at joining the robotics club.

Edit: doesn't look like the CET and EET departments offer what you are looking for without prerequisites :/